“Ant-Man” brings a new tone to Marvel

Though it may have seemed far-fetched for Paul Rudd to play a comic book hero, he most certainly delivered in this summer’s latest addition to the comic book cinema collection.

When you take the time to look at the overall cast of the film “Ant-Man,” there are more than a few surprises. Michael Douglas, though a monumental actor to say the least, seemed slightly out-of-place in a big budget comic film. Michael Peña, along with rapper Tip “T.I.” Harris, seemed like a recipe for a train wreck of a film. But against all odds, the film was a success. In all honesty, the film was amazing.

Throughout the film we’re able to see Rudd’s familiar brand of comedy along with some surprising elements of action throughout. Douglas, who fills the role of “Dr.Hank Pym,” the creator and original user of the Ant-Man technology, was one of the most impressive parts of the film. He was believable as a former super hero, and on more than one occasion, we got to see the comedic side of Douglas’ character. Peña and Harris, surprising as it may be, were amazing additions to the cast of the film. Peña alone filled the necessary void of comedic relief throughout the films running time, often stealing scenes from larger profile actors such as Rudd and Douglas.

Another surprising cast member comes in the form of Evangeline Lilly, who plays the role of “Hope van Dyne,” the daughter of Douglas’ “Dr.Pym” character. Lilly, who some moviegoers may remember from Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy, is much more suited for this role than she was for the role of she-elf “Tauriel” from the Middle-Earth saga.Her combination of emotional acting moments, along with a healthy dose of physically driven scenes, was a welcome addition to the film as a whole.

While the film itself was a tremendous success in the eyes of the majority of fans, there is one slight issue, and that is the villain. “Darren Cross,” playing the villainous “Yellowjaket,” while an interesting character, seemed slightly shallow in comparison to the remaining characters from the film. Played by Corey Stoll, well known for pivotal and powerful roles in “House of Cards” and “The Strain,” did a masterful job of playing the emotional, unstable “Cross” character. However, the overall sense of the villainous “Yellowjacket” seemed slightly rushed and cliched.

Does this take away from the film as a whole? Not really. You can still sit back and enjoy the film as a whole, but the final moments of the film may seem slightly out of place to you.

So, with all that being said, “Ant-Man” is a welcome addition to the ongoing Marvel collection of films. One word of advice to those who haven’t seen it: Stay until the end of the credits. There are two Easter egg scenes that are very important for future films.